by Ivan Maddox
West End Bible Fellowship
Atlanta, GA
Did Jesus Christ ever claim he was God? One of the favorite modern arguments for the doctrine of the Trinity is that Jesus Christ claimed to be God, and that because of this, we must judge him to be either to be a liar, or insane, or speaking the truth. This argument appears airtight. But before we make our judgment, perhaps we'd better take a look at the evidence.
In John 17:3, while praying to his Father, Jesus made reference to Him as "the only true God."
John 17:3.
17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
In this verse Jesus Christ not only distinguished himself from God; he identified his Father as the only true God, thus effectively denying the divinity of the "third person of the Trinity" as well. Any assertion that Jesus claimed he was God must deal with scriptures such as this in which he seems to say just the opposite in no uncertain terms.
But Jesus went much farther than this. On another occasion he was accused by the Jews of claiming to be God. How did Jesus answer this charge?
John 10:30-36.
10:30 I and my Father are one.
10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said,
I am the Son of God?
Jesus had just asserted that he and his Father are one. The Jews interpreted this, like many Christians still interpret it, to mean that Jesus was claiming to be God. Did Jesus reveal his "secret identity" at this point? Far from it.
First, Jesus made it clear that it is Scripturally appropriate to refer to a man as "god." He quotes a passage from the Old Testament that refers to judges as gods, because they represented God. In effect, Jesus was arguing that it would be entirely correct for him to claim the title "god" on this basis.
But Jesus did something else: he clarified for all time what he meant when he said, "I and the Father are one." According to Jesus, he was not claiming to be God, but rather the son of God. In saying this, he made it clear also that claiming to be the Son of God does not constitute claiming to be God. This is a good thing, because we, too, claim on the authority of God's Word to be sons of God.
Where and when did Jesus claim to be God? The next time you hear this assertion, ask the person who made it for the chapter and verse where Jesus did it; then look it up and read it for yourself. You will find, as I did, that not once did Jesus make such a claim. These assertions are based on our reading into Jesus' otherwise innocent words our own Trinitarian beliefs.
I will give you two passages of scripture that I have seen used to "prove" this, so that you can see what I mean. The first is Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ.
Matthew 16:15-16.
16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
As we have just seen, claiming to be the son of God has nothing to do with claiming to be God. This passage is clearly no example of Jesus claiming to be God.
The other, and I believe the most popular proof passage, is found in John 8.
John 8:52-58.
8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
8:53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
8:55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
That's it?
On the basis of this one cryptic statement, "Before Abraham was, I am," we claim that Jesus Christ claimed to be Almighty God?
An assertion of
this magnitude would require something much clearer than this. It would also
require a detailed explanation at the same time, because any assertion by Christ
that he was God without an explanation of the doctrine of the Trinity would
simply be the introduction of a second god.
But that's not what's
happening here. There is no hint here of any intent on Jesus' part to declare
himself to be God. We have simply interpreted his words to suit our purposes. A
more detailed look at this passage can be found in our study,
"Is I Am God's
Name?"
Did Jesus Christ claim to be God? Let's make sure we can
clearly and unambiguously show from the scriptures that
Jesus Christ not
only said words that could be interpreted as meaning he was God, but actually
intended to make such a declaration. To the best of my knowledge, there
is no place in scripture where Jesus Christ said he was God.
If
we say that Christ said he was God, when he did not, we make ourselves false
witnesses of God. If the doctrine of the Trinity is true, it can be established
from scripture without the need to resort to unsubstantiated assertions as this.
If it is not true, we dare not lay so blasphemous a charge at our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, who always acknowledged his Father as his God.
DID JESUS CHRIST RAISE HIMSELF
FROM THE
DEAD?
By Ivan Maddox
Did Jesus Christ raise himself from the dead? Was his resurrection a proof of his own identity, or was it evidence of the power of God, evidence that he was the man God chose and marked out as the Messiah?
How we answer this question will depend on what our standard for truth is. If the Word of God is our standard for truth, then what it says will determine what we believe. If, instead, the traditions of men hold greater sway over our hearts than the testimony of scripture, we will hold fast to whatever we happen to believe on the subject, regardless of whether that puts us in agreement with, or disagreement with, the scriptures.
Two passages of scripture are sometimes used to argue that Jesus Christ raised himself from the dead, and thus exhibited powers far beyond the abilities of mortal men. They argue that this constitutes a proof that Jesus was not a mere man, but was, in fact, God or a superhuman being in the flesh.
The first of these passages is found in the second chapter of the gospel of John.
John 2:19-21.
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
On the surface, this looks like a clear statement that Jesus said he would raise himself from the dead. But is it?
First, we need to notice that Jesus is not speaking literally. He is speaking in a figure. Verse 21 makes it clear that the temple he is speaking of is his body, so there is no question that he is referring to his resurrection. But is he prophesying that he will raise himself from the dead?
Two things make it especially important that we understand this prophecy correctly. First, in verse 18 of this chapter we are informed that Jesus offered this as a sign to the Jews.
John 2:18-19.
18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Jesus had just cleansed the temple of merchants and merchandise. The Jews challenged him, asking him for a sign in light of what he had done. Jesus responded with this prophecy about his resurrection.
In Deuteronomy 18, the seriousness of this is explained.
Deuteronomy 18:18-22.
18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which YAHWEH hath not spoken?
22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of YAHWEH, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which YAHWEH hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Since this was presented as a sign, the integrity of Jesus’ mission depends on whether or not it was completely and accurately fulfilled. If, for instance, Jesus meant that he would raise himself from the dead, but in fact someone else raised him from the dead, his sign would have failed to come to pass completely and accurately. In that case, the Jews would have been justified in rejecting his ministry, based on the failure of the sign he gave to be accurately fulfilled.
Second, there is not one single passage of scripture that teaches that this prophecy was fulfilled the way Jesus said it. This is a serious problem. If scripture were silent about how the prophecy was fulfilled, there might be some justification for arguing that it had to be fulfilled the way he said it. But the explicit testimony of scripture is that it was NOT fulfilled this way.
The apostle Peter was present when Jesus made this prophecy. At the time he, like the others present, did not understand what Jesus was talking about.
John 2:21-22.
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
It was only after Jesus was raised from the dead that they understood what he had been saying to them. How, then, did Peter understand his Master’s words, in light of his resurrection?
On the day of Pentecost, when he preached the first sermon of the Christian
age,
Peter testified that God raised Jesus from the dead.
Acts 2:22-24.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Acts 2:32.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Throughout his ministry, as detailed in the Book of Acts, Peter continued to teach the same thing.
Acts 3:14-15.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Acts 4:10.
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 10:37-40
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
At the end of his ministry, when he wrote his epistles, Peter was still teaching the same thing.
I Peter 1:18-21.
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
The apostle Paul consistently taught the same thing during his ministry.
Romans 10:9.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Ephesians 1:17-20.
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Acts 13:30-37.
30 But God raised him from the dead:
...
34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.
I Corinthians 15:15.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
Acts 17:31.
…he hath raised him from the dead.
Romans 4:24.
…if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead
Romans 6:4.
…Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father
Romans 8:11.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
I Corinthians 6:14.
14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
Galatians 1:1.
1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Colossians 2:12.
…God, who hath raised him from the dead
I Thessalonians 1:9-10.
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus…
But the most damaging witness against this interpretation of Jesus’ words in John 2:19 may be the quietest: John himself.
John 2:22.
22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
This passage looks somewhat ambiguous in the King James Version. It is not ambiguous in the New American Standard Version.
John 2:22 (NASV)
22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
The New American Standard correctly and clearly translates the verb tense used here, and reveals a critical truth: John himself, in the very passage we are discussing testified that Jesus did not raise himself from the dead!
The testimony of scripture is clear and unanimous in testifying that Jesus did not raise himself from the dead. But what did Jesus mean when he said he would raise the temple, meaning his body, in three days?
Before we consider this, we need to look at another passage of scripture which refers to resurrection.
I Thessalonians 4:16.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
If we were to try to force a literal interpretation here, the same way many try to do in John 2:19, we would be forced to conclude that those who are dead in Christ when he returns will RAISE THEMSELVES from the dead; for this verse does not say that they will BE RAISED, but rather that they SHALL RISE. However, we understand correctly from other scripture on the same subject that this is not the case. Therefore, even though the words in the verse say that the dead "shall rise", we understand the verse to mean that the dead will be raised. We understand that the writer was using vivid language to make his point; but we do not confuse ourselves about what the point is.
So how are we to understand John 2:19? In the Old Testament, prophets are sometimes represented as performing things which they were commissioned by God merely to reveal. In Isaiah 6:10, God instructs Isaiah to:
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Does this mean that Isaiah has the power to close men’s hearts, cover their ears or shut their eyes? No. But what God was going to allow to happen he transferred to Isaiah by a figure.
God told Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 1:9a-10.
9a. Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Did Jeremiah pull down or destroy or build even one nation? Not at all. God transferred what He Himself was going to do to the nations to Jeremiah, in a figure.
This is the same thing God is doing in John 2:19 with Jesus. Though the text literally says that Jesus would raise up the temple, which was his body, in three days, it is clear from this and every other scripture on the subject that God Himself raised Jesus from the dead. This passage must be understood in this light. Otherwise, honesty requires that we explain each and every single passage of scripture that testifies that God raised Jesus from the dead, and reconcile it with the OPPOSITE teaching allegedly found in John 2:19. We must also explain why Paul and the other apostles were not, in Paul’s words, "false witnesses of God" when they testified that God raised Jesus from the dead, if, as some allege, that is not at all what happened.
There is one other verse of scripture that is sometimes used to teach that Jesus raised himself from the dead. This verse also is found in the gospel of John.
John 10:17-18.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
The King James Version makes it appear that Jesus is talking about his own ability here. Nothing could be further from the truth. The New American Standard Version has a better translation of this verse.
John 10:18 (NASV).
18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.
Here it is clear that the issue is not ability, but rather authority. And the source of that authority was Jesus’ Father, from whom he received the commandment to lay down his life, that he might take it again.
Does the fact that Jesus was to "take… up again" his life mean that he was to do this by his own power, or on his own initiative? Not at all. This is made clearer when we look at a passage of scripture dealing with our own resurrection.
Matthew 16:24-27.
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
Here finding one’s life in verse 25 is tied in verse 27 to receiving your reward for what you have done. This makes it clear that finding your life is not something you do, but rather something that is to be done for you – even though an ACTIVE verb is used to describe what is happening.
In the same way, though an active verb – "take up" – is used in John 10:18, it must be understood in light of other scripture on this same subject. The use of an active verb is not conclusive evidence that personal activity is meant.
The Greek word translated "receive" in John 10:18 is LAMBANO. This word is used 263 times in the New Testament, and is translated in the King James Version "receive" 133 times, "take" 106 times, and various other ways 24 times. It can legitimately mean both "take" and "receive." It’s meaning must be determined by the context.
Here, if we translate it "take", this one verse disagrees with every other passage of scripture in the Bible concerning who raised Christ from the dead. If we translate it "receive," it is in agreement with all other scripture on the subject.
How do you think LAMBANO should be translated in this verse?
If we choose to translate it "take" in this verse, honesty requires that we explain each instance where scripture seems to testify THE OPPOSITE of what this verse seems to say, just as I have taken the time here to explain the two verses that seem to stand in opposition to every other passage of scripture on this subject. I know of no one who believes that Jesus Christ raised himself from the dead who has attempted to do this. I look forward to seeing the fruit of their efforts.
What is your conclusion? Did God raise Jesus from the dead? Or did Jesus raise himself?
Hebrews 5:7-9.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.
Taken from: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~cmadd01/raisdead.html - Slightly edited
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SHOULD WE WORSHIP JESUS?
by Ivan Maddox
Are we, as Christians, supposed to worship God, the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, alone?
Where does Jesus fit into our worship?
To understand where Jesus Christ is supposed to fit in our worship, we need to understand clearly the relationship between Jesus Christ and God. The best picture I've seen in scripture of what God did in exalting Christ to His own right hand is Pharaoh's exaltation of Joseph to his right hand. Pharaoh exalted Joseph over everyone in his kingdom (except Pharaoh), and gave him his signet ring (the authority to make laws). If anyone came to Pharaoh with a problem, Pharaoh sent him to Joseph: you couldn't go over Joseph's head to Pharaoh. Yet there was only one Pharaoh -- and Joseph wasn't him! Joseph never forgot this. If you read the record of how Joseph conducted business, he was always careful to know and do Pharaoh's will. Even when he wanted to invite his family to Egypt -- and even though he had the authority and right to do so -- he went to Pharaoh first and cleared everything with him before taking any action on this. All Egypt was subject to Joseph, but Joseph walked in subjection to Pharaoh, even though he had been made lord over all.
Any Egyptian who bowed down to Joseph AS PHARAOH would have been guilty of high treason, and would probably have been executed. At the same time, the position Joseph had been exalted to required that he be bowed down to as Pharaoh's representative and right hand man. Anyone who dishonored Joseph dishonored Pharaoh.
There are at least two different Greek words used for worship. PROSKUNEO literally means "to bow the knee." We bow the knee in worship to God, but it is also appropriate to bow the knee in worship to Jesus (the King of Kings), as well as to kings. (Nebuchadnezzar did this to Daniel on one occasion, and burned incense to him!)
LATREUO means "to give religious worship to." It is never, to my knowledge, used in scripture in reference to the worship of Jesus. It is used instead for the worship that is due to God as God.
You can see this balance between the worship of God and the worship of Jesus played out in Revelation 4 and 5.
Revelation 4 describes the worship given to God alone.
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
God is worshipped as the creator. No one is worshipped with Him here, and no one else is included with Him as creator.
In Revelations 5, Jesus is worshipped, not as the creator, but as the one who redeemed men TO GOD.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts
and four and twenty elders fell down before the
Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of
odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And
they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the
seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us
to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our
God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the
earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of
many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number
of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power,
and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and
blessing.
Finally, at the end of the chapter, God and Christ are worshipped together, but as two distinctly different beings.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on
the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in
them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and
ever.
14 And the four beasts
said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down
and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
And to these heavenly creatures’ words of worship, both to God and to the Lamb, I say, Amen and Amen.
Jesus Christ is absolutely supposed to be an object of our
worship.
But we are to worship him for who he
is, and what he did.
We are not to confuse him with the
Father in our worship.
The Father alone is to be
worshipped as God.
Taken from: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~cmadd01/worshipjesus.html
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by Ivan Maddox
What if it were Moses that were being worshipped as God, instead of Jesus?
What if the Israelites, after his death, had decided that Moses was God, and started worshipping him as God? Would that have been idolatry?
What if, as in the case of the golden calf, they had made it clear that they had no intention of worshipping a new god. What if they had said instead, "Let us worship YAHWEH, who appeared to us at Mt. Sinai, and Moses, and the spirit of God that was upon Moses, as one God." Had they done this, would that have constituted departing from the true and living God? Would that constitute rejecting the revelation given by God about Himself, in favor of their own imaginings? Would God be pleased with such worship as this?
Proving that Moses was God would not be as difficult as one might expect.
- Moses is twice called "a god" in scripture.
- Moses had his own prophet, Aaron. How can anyone who is
not God have a prophet?
- Some Christians have argued that Moses is alive now and in heaven. If this were true, it would mean that Moses has ascended into heaven.
Were Moses' miracles proof of his divinity? Moses was the first man to do miracles. If he were not God, how could he turn a rod into a serpent, or water into blood, or part the Red Sea, or produce water from the rock, or manna from heaven?
If it is wrong to do this to Moses, then what about the "prophet like unto [Moses]"?
Note carefully my question. I am not asking, "Is this true?" Of course it's not true! No one believes it to be true. No one is arguing that it is true.
My question is, "Would this constitute idolatry? Would this be functionally equivalent to worshipping the golden calf?"
Would worshipping Moses as God have brought honor to Moses? Would he have rejoiced to find that the people he had spent his life leading had done this? Or would it be a mockery of everything he had done, everything he had been?
Taken from: http://userwww.service.emory.edu/~cmadd01/mosesgod.html - Slightly edited
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